“Since when did you complete a soulbond?” Drew's fists clenched at his sides. “You've both just put the whole pack at risk.”
“We haven't completed the bond,” Aylin clarified.
“Sure, whatever.” Drew huffed.
“Man, seriously. Do you have no manners?” I grabbed a bowl and whipped up more batter.
“This coming from you,” Drew said.
I mocked hurt, but smiled. He had a point. Changing the subject, I asked, “Who's hungry?”
“I think you two have some explaining to do.” Drew tossed the bloodied napkin in the trash. “I went to Aylin's house and discovered a crazy bitch there. A kooky thing, who tells me Aylin is with her soulbonded mate. Imagine my surprise when she points me in this direction.”
Aylin lowered her head, but never faltered. “Sorry, Drew. I should've told you.”
“Shit, Aylin, I mean how long has this been going on?” He pointed at Connor. “Is that why Gabriel attacked him last night?”
“Nothing's been going on. Gabriel thought he could stop another soulbond by attacking Connor.”
“But he didn't.” I waved my hand at her, displaying our imprint.
“Fine,” she admitted. “Gabriel must have known you were my mate. But he failed.”
“Only because of the blood magic,” I said.
“Wait, shut the door!” Drew squinted at Aylin. “You completed blood magic? Aylin, you know better.”
“I had to, Drew. Using dark magic was the only way to save Connor from death. Blood magic can only be reversed by blood magic.”
“No, it isn’t. You know the risks of blood magic. It's dark. The taint of the spell can live within you for weeks. It can cause you to turn dark.” Drew glared at me. “And you let her.”
“Hmm...” I was unconscious at the time, I wanted to say. But I didn't. I couldn't. “You're right. I should have been stronger, but I wasn't.”
“Connor would have died,” Aylin added.
“You don't know that.” Drew placed an arm around her shoulders. “I don't know what I'd do if I lost you.”
“First, I know Connor would have died. Second, I'm not going anywhere. And third—” she shoved Drew away “—quit trying to protect me. I'm older, remember. I protect you.”
“But I'm supposed to protect you. I'm the man of the family.”
“I can defend myself.” Aylin jumped off the island and set the table, while I scooped up the stuffed French toast. The bacon, though, was beyond saving.
“So you say,” Drew said.
A timid knock on the wall sounded, followed by a very quaint, “Excuse me.”
Luna walked into the room, her small, pale frame taking hesitant footsteps. “I'm sorry to interrupt, but the door was open. I came to check on you two and see if you were okay.” She eyed Drew as if deciding whether she needed to protect us from him.
Aylin grabbed her in a brief hug. “Thank you. Without your skillful observation—” she pointed to me “—this bastard probably would've died.”
“Hey, this bastard has a name.” I couldn't wait to hear Aylin scream my name while in the throes of passion, but I tamped that thought down for later.
Luna wiggled her foot from side to side and peeked at me through strands of hair, then lowered her gaze again. “I did nothing other than state the obvious.”
Drew huffed. “I'm out, but we will talk later, Aylin.”
He scowled at Luna, who returned his hateful stare with the sweetest smile I had ever seen. The eighteen-year-old child would give Drew a run for his money one day.
“I'd better go too. See you later.” She ran after Drew.
Aylin laughed and took a big bite of her breakfast. “God, I'm starved.”
Me too, but I wanted more than what was served on the kitchen table.
Chapter Eight
Aylin
I stood outside Connor's cabin in the late evening air. My skin tingled with the need to shift. My wolf paced, excited at the freedom that would come when my more primitive side surfaced. I embraced the change. The magical essence swam through my body, taking control of my human half. I raised my head to the sky and called forth my animal spirit.
My body contorted—bones stretching, skin spurting fur, and my face becoming longer, narrower. Sharp canines pierced through my gums. My eyesight sharpened. A sleek auburn wolf replaced my human form.
I shook from side to side, the tension from the shift fading with every jolt. The wild called to me like the caress of a lover. My inner self grinned.
I needed to be free.
To run.
My paws pounded against the frozen ground of the forest. I ran from Connor, our bond, and the life that was being forced upon me. A twig snapped. My ears perked, but I didn't slow down. I didn't care who paced in the distance. I was free.
My heart sped with the exertion. The frosty air condensed my breath to frosty clouds.
I howled and ran faster. My eyes narrowed on the path of the shallow stream. Water splashed, soaking my fur. The crisp air burned my lungs and chilled my soul.
An instinctive need to run forward had me continuing on my path. But the frantic yip of a young pup in trouble brought me to a swift halt. I listened.
Head raised, tail high, I sniffed the air.
The familiar scent of two male pack members calmed me.
A snarl followed by another distraught yap raised my hackles. I leapt over a downed log, ran amid thistles, and splashed through muck before I jumped into a clearing.
A small, silver pup lay on her back, submitting to two male wolves that circled and snapped at the young female. I snarled at them, inserting myself between the pup and the wolves like a mother protecting her child.
Stop! She is no threat.
Howls reminiscent of laughter greeted my plea. My lips curled in a snarl, exposing my sharp canine teeth.
Aylin, go home! Mack, the larger one, growled.
Not a chance. She's with me.
Continuing to circle, the wolves goaded me to submit, which was something I
